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Law alumni board of directors 2022-2023

Serving Alumni and the School of Law

Alumni Association Advisory Board

The Alumni Board

The Alumni Association Advisory Board of Directors exists to carry forward the School of Law mission by serving our alumni and the School of Law. The Advisory Board does this through mission-driven programming around service, social activities, and professional development, resulting in strong relationships in, and long-term financial support for, the School of Law community.

2023-24 Law Alumni Board

  • Officers
  • Continuing Directors (term until 6/30/2024)
  • Incoming Directors (term until 6/30/2026)

    • Officers

    President and Board of Governors Representative: Kate Nilan Uding ’06, Luther Automotive Group (St. Louis Park, MN)

    Past President and Board of Governors Representative: Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell ’06, Best & Flanagan LLP (Minneapolis, MN)

    President-elect: Chris Vatsaas ’11, Chestnut Cambronne PA (Minneapolis, MN)

    Secretary: The Hon. John Sandy ‘10, Iowa District Court 3A (Spirit Lake, IA)

    Continuing Directors (term until 6/30/2024)

    Chuck Berendes ’07, Pittman & Pittman Law Offices, LLC (LaCrosse, WI)

    Emily Niles ’14, Robins Kaplan (Minneapolis, MN)

    Andrew LeJeune ’15 JD/MBA (Minneapolis, MN)

    Nicolet Lyon ’10, Law Office of Katherine L. MacKinnon, PLLC (St. Paul, MN)

    Jules Porter ’17 JD/MBA, Seraph 7 Studios, LLC (Minneapolis, MN)

    Ronnie Santana ’18, Gerald Miller P.A. (Minneapolis, MN)

    Lisa Thimjon ’09, State of Minnesota – Department of Health (St. Paul, MN)

    Dillon Lang ’19, Wright County Sheriff’s Office

    Adam Rowe-Johnson ’20, Scott County Attorney’s Office

    Cianna Halloran ’21, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. (Minneapolis, MN)

    Incoming Directors (term until 6/30/2026)

    Charlie Austinson ‘06, Smith Jadin Johnson, PLLC (Bloomington, MN)

    Josh Damberg ’17, Fafinski Mark & Johnson PA (Eden Prairie, MN)

    Lindsey Rowland ’18, Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. (Eden Prairie, MN)

    Laura Kvasnicka ’20 JD/MSW, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (Minneapolis, MN)

    Amanda Pilon ’21, Minneapolis Grain Exchange (Minneapolis, MN)

    Officers

    President and Board of Governors Representative: Kate Nilan Uding ’06, Luther Automotive Group (St. Louis Park, MN)

    Past President and Board of Governors Representative: Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell ’06, Best & Flanagan LLP (Minneapolis, MN)

    President-elect: Chris Vatsaas ’11, Chestnut Cambronne PA (Minneapolis, MN)

    Secretary: The Hon. John Sandy ‘10, Iowa District Court 3A (Spirit Lake, IA)

    Continuing Directors (term until 6/30/2024)

    Chuck Berendes ’07, Pittman & Pittman Law Offices, LLC (LaCrosse, WI)

    Emily Niles ’14, Robins Kaplan (Minneapolis, MN)

    Andrew LeJeune ’15 JD/MBA (Minneapolis, MN)

    Nicolet Lyon ’10, Law Office of Katherine L. MacKinnon, PLLC (St. Paul, MN)

    Jules Porter ’17 JD/MBA, Seraph 7 Studios, LLC (Minneapolis, MN)

    Ronnie Santana ’18, Gerald Miller P.A. (Minneapolis, MN)

    Lisa Thimjon ’09, State of Minnesota – Department of Health (St. Paul, MN)

    Dillon Lang ’19, Wright County Sheriff’s Office

    Adam Rowe-Johnson ’20, Scott County Attorney’s Office

    Cianna Halloran ’21, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. (Minneapolis, MN)

    Incoming Directors (term until 6/30/2026)

    Charlie Austinson ‘06, Smith Jadin Johnson, PLLC (Bloomington, MN)

    Josh Damberg ’17, Fafinski Mark & Johnson PA (Eden Prairie, MN)

    Lindsey Rowland ’18, Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. (Eden Prairie, MN)

    Laura Kvasnicka ’20 JD/MSW, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (Minneapolis, MN)

    Amanda Pilon ’21, Minneapolis Grain Exchange (Minneapolis, MN)

    Join the Alumni Board

    Consider joining the Alumni Board! If you have questions, please email lawalumni@stthomas.edu.

    Available Positions

    • Secretary: an officer position with automatic succession to the position of President-elect, President and Past-president.
    • Directors: Five 3-year term positions and five 1-year term positions.

    Responsibilities of Board Members

    The ideal Alumni Board member enjoys connecting with the St. Thomas Law community, maintains alumni connections, has ideas for community building and engagement, and brings ideas and skills that they would enjoy using to advance the School of Law.

    For a more detailed and complete understanding of the responsibilities of serving on the Board and selection criteria, please see the Alumni Board Bylaws (PDF).